Gavaskar optimistic despite NZ horror

Wellington, 2014/Feb/16 03:12:00

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Sunil Gavaskar said India's poor performance in New Zealand would not affect their performance in the World Cup next year, to be held Down Under.

The showpiece event in 2015 will be co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia and hence this ongoing tour was seen as vital to India's preparations. However, the reigning world champions were crushed 0-4 in the ODI series, with the bowlers failing to deliver and most batsmen, barring MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and to an extent Rohit Sharma, looking at sea.

But Gasvakar reckoned India have adapted well enough, even after their senior stars retired to pave the way for young cricketers to take up their mantle.

"This tour and one to Australia next summer pre-World Cup would be crucial to India's development," Gavaskar was quoted as saying by 'Fairfax News'.

The former captain, who is commentating in the ongoing tour, said India have adapted well after the retirement of legends such as Sachin Tendulkar.

"You can already see they're making changes and learning from the ODI series. They're starting to show they're adapting to the conditions and the bowling and I think the team is really keen to learn and improve and that's a great sign," said Gavaskar.

The former batsman felt India's had become better fielders since their 2011 World Cup triumph.

"In 2011 when India won, the fielding wasn't up to standard," he said.

"It was some of the best Indian players of all time that helped them win the tournament, but not the fielding. The fielding is so much better now and those younger players are going to save extra runs in the field and run extra runs when they're batting.

"They're talented and that increased exposure over the next 12 months [will help]," he added.